Alexander Skryabin: "The Motherland is the feeling that you are home"

What makes a place "your own", and a country your Motherland? For some, it is majestic landscapes; for others, family traditions or the voice of a grandmother reading fairy tales. During the all-Russian survey "What does the Motherland begin with?", people across the country are answering this question in their own way, opening up the innermost corners of their souls. The Head of Rostov-on-Don, Alexander Skryabin, shared his view. His words serve as a reminder: the Motherland begins where we are understood without words, where every corner is familiar and dear.

"For me, the Motherland begins where the soul is filled with warmth from simple, familiar words. The Motherland is in the smiles of family, friends and loved ones, in the hospitality of neighbours, in that unique feeling that you are home. The Motherland is even in a hot Rostov morning," Alexander Skryabin said.

According to Alexander Skryabin, the Motherland lives in words familiar from childhood, in the Russian language, in people’s generosity and in a special feeling that cannot be confused with anything else.

"On the Don, we speak quietly, calmly and steadily, like the Don River flows. The Motherland is our country, where every word and every glance carries a special feeling: the sense that you are home," Alexander Skryabin shared.

In the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia, declared by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, the National Centre RUSSIA launched the all-Russian survey "What does the Motherland begin with?". The project unites citizens around shared values and love for the Motherland, and is being implemented jointly with the Government of the Russian Federation and federal executive bodies. It is aimed at strengthening civic identity, preserving cultural diversity and shaping national values through dialogue between generations and regions.

We invite you to share your view: what does this word mean to you? Together, we can create a united and multifaceted image of the Motherland. You can take part in the survey on our website until 9 June inclusive.